Peter Eric Van Kleek, 85, of Berthoud, died on March 18, 2014 at Broomfield Skilled Facility in Broomfield. He was born in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1929 to John Raymond and Joan (Hill) Van Kleek.

He served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Peter graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York with a degree in Hotel Management.

He married Barbara Jane King in June of 1954.

Peter worked in Hotel Management early in his career, and later became a Founding Dean of Hotel Education at Johnson and Wales College in Providence Rhode Island and at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He retired in 1992.

Peter has lived in Berthoud since 1999, moving here from Tucson, Arizona.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Berthoud.

Peter enjoyed cooking, woodworking and pottery.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Van Kleek of Berthoud, his three daughters, Laura Leopold (Richard) of Valencia, California, Jennifer Van Kleek of Boulder and Erica Zimmerman of Boulder; his grandchildren, Megan and Shannon Leopold and Noah and Zoey Zimmerman, and his sister Jean Pettigrew of Tryon, North Carolina.

A Memorial service will take place at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church in Berthoud.

Memorial contributions may be made in Peter’s name to your local public library or to the Hospice of your choice.